The death of Colombian Joan Sebastián Guerrero during an operation by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) has unleashed a strong wave of indignation in Maine, where hundreds of people took to the streets to demand justice and hold accountable Republican Senator Susan Collins, who voted in favor of increasing the immigration agency's budget.

The protests were concentrated in front of the legislator's office in Biddeford, the city where the operation occurred. In videos broadcast on social networks, dozens of protesters can be seen chanting slogans such as “ICE Out,” “Get Susan Collins out,” and “Justice for Joan Sebastián Guerrero,” while demanding an independent investigation into what happened.

Collins under pressure after backing ICE

The protesters' anger not only responds to the death of the young Colombian, but also to Collins' vote to approve a budget package that allocated $70 billion to strengthen ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) over the next three years.

After learning of the death, the senator published a brief message on social networks: "The shooting in Biddeford requires a complete and impartial investigation into what happened. According to my information, the Biddeford police have secured the scene and the FBI is investigating."

However, the position was received with criticism from citizens and organizations, who consider that the legislator must also respond for having supported the increase in resources for the agency responsible for the operation.

Lack of body cameras increases doubts about the operation

One of the points that has most intensified the controversy is that the ICE agents involved did not wear body cameras, despite the fact that Congress approved resources to equip them with this technology.

Democratic Representative for Maine, Jared Golden, reported through

Golden regretted that the agents did not have cameras, since these would have made it possible to clarify what happened more quickly.

"Unfortunately, the ICE officers involved in this incident were not yet wearing body cameras, which could have helped establish the necessary facts. Congress approved funding for this technology in April to increase transparency and accountability, but deployment has been slow. DHS needs to make this a priority," the congressman wrote.

The absence of these devices has reopened the debate about transparency in ICE operations, especially at a time when the agency faces increasing scrutiny over its use of force.

As investigations by the FBI, the DHS Office of Inspector General, and the Maine Attorney General's Office continue, the family of Joan Sebastián Guerrero continues to demand answers. According to information released by immigrant rights organizations, the Colombian had a Social Security Number and was authorized to work legally in the United States, a fact that has further fueled the debate about the circumstances in which he lost his life during the operation.